GovTwin / Institution

Kishoreganj (Nilphamari)

Local Gov

A rural upazila in eastern Nilphamari on the northern plain, with an agrarian economy of paddy, maize and seasonal farm labour.

Indicators: Meta RWI (HDX); ERA5-Land; MODIS; Sentinel-5P; VIIRS night-lights; GHSL; Hansen v1.11; CHIRPS v2.0. Exposure: GloFAS v2.1, FABDEM, MODIS LST, ACAG PM2.5, WorldPop 2020.

Problems and issues

1. poverty A mean Relative Wealth Index of -0.166 places Kishoreganj in the poorer third decile of upazilas, reflecting a low rural asset base. So what: Limited assets leave households vulnerable through the lean season. Source: Meta Data for Good Relative Wealth Index (HDX)
2. economy Nearly stagnant district economic activity offers little wage employment to absorb the upazila's farm-surplus labour. So what: Scarce off-farm work keeps incomes low and seasonal. Source: Department of Youth Development
3. air quality Brick kilns and agricultural-residue burning contribute to the severe aerosol pollution that blankets the district. So what: Heavy haze raises respiratory health risks for residents. Source: Department of Environment

Probable solutions

• Deepen industrial linkages around the Uttara EPZ with skills training and SME supplier development to convert farm-surplus labour into wage employment Responsible: Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) / Department of Youth Development · policy proposal
• Convert brick kilns to cleaner firing technology and control agricultural-residue burning to cut the district's high aerosol loading Responsible: Department of Environment · policy proposal